2025 Navitas University Partnership Australasia Learning and Teaching Conference
This month, more than 300 Navitas educators, leaders, and sector experts came together for the 2025 Navitas University Partnership Australasia (UPA) Learning and Teaching Conference to explore the theme: “Evolving Practices for Student Success: Driving Student Success Through Evidence.”
With 41 presenters sharing their expertise, the program highlighted innovative teaching approaches, research-informed strategies, and rich conversations about what truly drives student success across Navitas colleges and the wider higher education sector.
Opening reflections
UPA CEO Malcolm Baigent opened the conference by exploring the critical role Navitas staff play in shaping how students experience learning and define success. He emphasised Navitas’ shared responsibility to provide every student with the support they need to achieve meaningful outcomes and reaffirmed Navitas’s commitment to adopting broader measures of student success that extend beyond completion rates to include persistence, belonging, and graduate outcomes.
Keynote address
Emeritus Professor Shirley Alexander (University of Technology Sydney) delivered the keynote, offering a thought-provoking exploration of how success is defined, measured, and understood from multiple perspectives, including students, institutions, regulators, parents, and employers.
She examined the student lifecycle, identifying key factors that can constrain student engagement and achievement, including competing work commitments, unrealistic expectations and misconceptions about tertiary study, and limited familiarity with the academic practices and literacies required at university.
To address these challenges, Professor Alexander advocated for:
- Inclusive design that supports transition and responds to the needs of diverse cohorts.
- Embedded support throughout the student journey, including early intervention strategies, timely feedback, and targeted programs.
- Self-regulated learning skills enable students not only to manage their studies but also to enjoy learning and build lasting connections.
Professor Alexander commended Navitas’s already strong outcomes in retention, progression, and completion, while challenging us to continue striving for even better results. Importantly, she encouraged institutions to help students make informed program choices aligned with their passions, skills, and interests, laying the foundation for long-term career and life satisfaction.
Spotlight on presenters
The conference featured a diverse program of presentations and lightning talks spanning:
- Inclusive and equitable pedagogy
- Embedding Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in the curriculum
- Supporting international and neurodiverse students
- Strengthening academic integrity in the age of AI
- Connecting classrooms with industry through real-world engagement
These sessions showcased the breadth of expertise and creativity across UPA, reflecting Navitas’ collective commitment to evolving practice, addressing emerging challenges, and driving student success through evidence and innovation.
Community and connection
A highlight of the conference was the opportunity to connect with colleagues from colleges across Navitas. The virtual networking spaces, facilitated by Mojtaba Sanati (CC), sparked lively discussions and exchanges of ideas, and reinforced the importance of collaboration in sharing best practices, exploring challenges, and advancing student success and belonging.
Acknowledgements
A heartfelt thank you to the Conference Committee and Chairs for their leadership and dedication:
- Jubin Jacob John (Learning and Teaching Services)
- Prathiba Thalpawila (Learning and Teaching Services)
- Alyce Hogg (Learning and Teaching Services)
- Dr Saad Odeh (SIBT)
- Maria Remiendo (LTUSC)
- Faiza Qureshi (Murdoch Dubai)
- Mona Umapathy (SAIBT)
Navitas looks forward to building on this success and sharing further insights at the 2026 UPA Learning & Teaching Conference!